eastern. your top stories are next in the "cnn newsroom." have a great weekend. from the cnn center, this is cnn saturday morning. it is august 15th. good morning. i'm betty nguyen. i'm t.j. holm s. in grand junction, colorado, the president will be there talking about his health care town hall. we have a lot of news, some of it breaking. this just in, breaking news out of myanmar. an american sentenced to seven years.

he is going to be coming home. this comes after a visit from virginia senator dan web. our dan rivers is in bangkok and joins us on the phone. remind you're viewers of what happened with this american. >> reporter: well, this guy, john yattow sparked an international incident by swimming across the late to get to the home of suu chy. he spent a couple of nights had her compound before he was discovered. they then put her and him on trial for breaking the terms of her house arrest. he was just sentenced last week to seven years hard labor. well, now, a u.s. senator, jim webb, has managed to secure his release. we understand the senator and john yattow will be flying no

bangkok on sunday. >> what did he get on song suu kyi. what will happen with her? >> reporter: he managed to get something that a lot of previous diplomates have not been able to get. we haven't heard anything at all on whether her house arrest will be relaxed. to be honest, that's farrell unlikely, because there is a lot of speculation around this. they wanted to keep her out of the way for next year's election. they were key to extend her her house arrest. this was a perfect excuse to do that. clearly, getting the release of john yattow was important. he is an ill man. he has diabetes and epilepsy and taken to the hospital before the verdict was delivered with

seizures. we understand he was a vietnam veteran and has a troubled mind, i think is the best way of putting it. obviously, one doesn't quite know why he swam this lake. there were reports at the time that he had had some sort of vision that she was going to be assassinated and wanted to warn her. he is a troubled guy that clearly needs help. the american delegation that went in there led by jim webb were key to try and secure his release. the most important thing to remember is this is an unofficial visit, not par for the state department. the senator is acting on his own. >> a senate visit, not on behalf of the u.s. or the state department but he did get the blessing of the white house to go. dan, how was he able to succeed where so many others had failed? he was able to get this meeting. were his negotiations tougher in getting that meeting or does this signal some change in

stance from this regime? >> reporter: i think it's very interesting what's going on in the background here i think, clearly, there is a re-assessment of the u.s. policy toward myanmar. as you said, this is not in an official capacity. he did get the green light from the white house to go. i think this is part of a re-assessment that says, look, we have factions in place for 20 years. clearly, this isn't resulting in the regime. we saw an uprising that resulted in hundreds of people being killed in 2007 and the regime stayed in plays. what appears to be happening here, a massive international outrage put on burma when she was arrested. perhaps this a sign they realize they have to respond in some way that they will clearly use it for their own advantage, the military regime. they will put this on tv to show

that he came here in a similar way when president clinton went to north korea and secured the release. this equally will be portrayed in myanmar as a bit of a public coup for the regime. some people would say, this only legitmizes the military regime. a lot of people have argued that we should continue with the sanctions, we should further isolate it. i think behind the scenes, there is clearly some sort of re-assessment of u.s. policy here. >> our dan rivers for us in bangkok this morning. bangkok is where senator web will be heading with the american, john yattaw. thanlg you so much. >> joined by jessica smith, senator webb's communication director. first question, was this always a part of senator webb's mission, when he decided he was going it take this trip? was part of the on jek tibjectit

this american out? >> thanks, t.j. senator webb is wrapping up a two-day trip to burma, part of a larger trip, a two-week tour of asia. he is the chairman of the east asian pacific subcommittee of the foreign relations committee here in the senate. he has been very consistent about the need for aggressive diplomacy with these kind of authoritarian ra jeems around the globe. he has been very consistent that if we engage with burma, it will benefit both countries involved if we speak directly with burma's leadership and work toward resolving our differences there. so he has been consistent about this message. he went over there with the intention of having very frank discussions with the top leadership in burma. >> did he always know going over

that he was going to try to get john yettaw out of there? >> he went over intending to have these frank discussions both with the prime minister and with the senior general there. he intended to raise the issue of john yettaw and also sukhy. he did have frank relations about releasing both of them. the engagement was effective in this case and he was able to negotiate the release of john yettaw. >> what are the criticisms? we have seen myanmar, the folks there do it before. for propaganda reasons, we have others that were there not too long ago. i know y'all have heard this criticism. what do you say to those who are looking at this as finding this -- even though the senator was not there, the official

representative of the state department or the u.s., necessarily but still it's a pretty high-ranking u.s. official making this trip. some say it gives some legitimacy to an oppressive regime. >> this was an official visit by a u.s. senator. he didn't goen beha on behalf o state. he said it works towards resolving our differences. he is a strong believer in aggressive diplomas sichlt i think we saw the fruits of that effort today. >> jessica smith, again, senator webb's communication director out of d.c. we appreciate you hopping on the phone with us. pe appreciate it. >> thank you. they are going to be leaving today. the senator will be leaving with the american, john yettaw, leaving and heading to bangkok. jim webb is on a two-week trip.

he will continue on. we don't know what will happen to john yettaw. that's what we were talking about. he is not in the best of physical conditions. i can't imagine him tagging along. don't know when heel get back to the u.s. missouri man. >> it sounds like that may have been a key factor in securing this release, because yettaw, although the trial was taking place in myanmar, he suffered several seizures in jail. it begs the question, could he have withstood that seven years in labor camp. thate th that is the latest on that. the first family is on a getaway in the wide open west. there is no getting away of the health care battle for president obama in this make or break month for reform. >> reporter: sure, montana is a

nice place to visit this time of year. the president had more on his mind than flying fishing. he also came for urgent business. buttering up the state's senior citizen and chairman of the finance committee, max baucus, who could hold the fate of health reform in his hand. >> first of all, the man who is working tirelessly to make sure that the american people get a fair deal when it comes to health care in america, please give max baucus a big round of applause. >> in private, top presidential advisers ab advisers acknowledge that the fight has reached a critical stage as the opposition has reef reached soming. >> reporter: by comparison, the president's town hall here was pretty tame, thou he did get one pointed question that reflected the strong opposition he is facing. >> we keep getting the bull.

that's all we get, is bull. you can't tell us how you are going to pay for this. the only way you are going to get that money is to raise our taxes. you said you wouldn't. >> look, you are absolutely right, that i can't cover another 46 million people for free. >> reporter: the president did not shrink from the challenge and vowed again he will not raise taxes on the middle class to pay for the difference. >> when i was campaigning, i made a promise that i would not raise your taxes if you made $250,000 a year or less. that's what i said. i said, for people like myself, who make more than that, there is nothing wrong with me paying a little bit more in order to help people who got a little bit less. >> many agree that's easier said than done. so that leaves the others to figure out pesky details of how to pay for reform.

weeks of negotiations in washington have thus far come up empty. >> ed henry joins us live from big sky, montana. it seems like the president is almost going back to campaign mode when it comes to health care. >> reporter: you are right, betty. bloomberg news posted a story saying that now two democratic ad firms that ran all the ads for the president back in the campaign are now back in business ready to start doing health care ads, promoting what the president wants in terms of reform. yesterday, here in montana, at that town hall, he was telling people, i need your help, i need you knocking on doors. he wants them to knock on doors to promote health care reform and he is hitting the roads with these town hauls. a little bit of vacation this morning. he is going to yellow stone and wyoming with his family, a little r and r. tonight, we are right away going to colorado, grand junction, another town hall meeting. he is hitting the road. it is not just perhaps about campaigning in the short term

for health reform. let's not forget. he ran hard in the mountain west in the last election. did pretty well. he twoopwants to remind the vote might be back for their vote. >> the president met some questions that were tough but it was not very contentious. do you expect anything along those lines tonight? >> reporter: i still think you can expect pretty respectful responses. sometimes people take on members of congress a little tougher than they would the president. the office bestows a bit of respect, whether it is democrat or republican. i think the president made clear in the town hall yesterday, he made a little bit of a joke in television, saying tv loves a ruckus, that maybe we are showing a lot of pictures of anger. there is serious conversation going on as well. he is trying to dial it back, turn the temperatures down a bit and get thoughtful conversation moving forward. a very serious debate moving on.

a lot on the line politically. a lot on the line for the 46 million uninsured american people. the millions that have insurance, they may be nervous they are going to lose it. a lot on the line right now. >> absolutely. that's why so many people have so many questions. at times, it can become heated. ed henry, thanks so much for that. today, plenty of chances for americans to confront their lawmakers on health care. let me give you a map showing town hall meetings and other events across the country. grand junction, colorado, the site of the president's town hall tonight. pete stark is holding three town halls in california. there are also events in chicago and in georgia. back to what we were talking about, emotions. they are running high at town hall meetings nationwise. today, we are live with health care reform uninterrupted. get the questions rs get the answers on town hall raw today at 2:00 eastern right here on cnn. the taliban claiming responsibility for the death of

at least seven people killed by a suicide bomber today in kabul, afghanistan. we know we are just days away from these presidential elections. what will this violence now mean looking ahead to next week? >> reporter: t.j., this bomb rattled the capital of afghanistan causing many to rethink if they are going to go to the polls. we met with victims of this car bomb. we spoke to a 21-year-old girl who told me that the car bomb itself made the decision for her. she had a voter registration card. she refuses to go out and vote. we spoke to her mother and grandmother. they told us that they also refuse to go out and vote. five days from now, in the second ever presidential elections here in afghanistan. let's remember that thousands of u.s. marines and thousands of coalition forces flooded into afghanistan hoping to provide a

secure environment for afghanistans to go out there. they have secured towns and villages. there are still very insecure villages left all over afghanistan. when we spoke to the afghan people beforehand, they said danger had never stopped them before. they had been living in danger for the past 30 years. today was a chilling reminder that they could lose their family member at any polling station they go to. >> that's not what people wanted right before those elections. we thank you so much live for us on the ground there. to really understand what's going on in afghanistan and why we are over there. you can watch the documentary at 8:00 eastern on cnn. let's get you the latest on the lockheed wild fire in california. strong winds are making it difficult to fight this fire in santa cruz, california. a lot of people have been under mandatory evacuations as well. close to eight square miles of forrest have been burned and

this started on wednesday. to give you an indication of how tough it has been for firefighters, only 15% of it has been contained so far. some 1,500 firefighters are on the scene and on top of all of this because of these wildfires and the fact that they are still trying very hard to fight them back. a state of emergency has been declared. other breaking news story this morning, an american being held in a prison in myanmar is coming home according to senator jim webb who was on a trip there who has negotiated the release of john ye it. taw, the american who was convicted for illegally swimming to the home of prodemocracy reader there reader there for suu khy. details still to come. we are talking about two trailblazers, an icon of the civil rights movement and one of

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one of the recipients is here with us. we have reverend joseph lowery. we have the well-known,

well-revered cheetah rivera. let me start with you. this is quite -- you have been through so much, a pioneer of the civil rights movement, to receive an honor like this. i'm sure you have had so many in the past. how special this one? >> very special. when you talk about the highest honor that a civilian can get, you are talking about high cotton. i know you done know what that is. >> i'm from the south. i have heard it. >> it was a stunning surprise and i'm still in orbit. >> really? >> i'm looking for a landing place somewhere. i'm around the south pole right now. to be in the company of such distinguish citizens and personalities as cheetah riita

and sidney poitier, it was a great honor. it is consistent with the president's theme about change. he made his selections from the theme, ages of change. i am honored to be in that list. >> let's bring in miss rivera. i assume you echo some of the same sendmentetiments? i could not say it better than the reverend. i kept sitting there saying, oh, my goodness, am i really here? i suddenly remembered my mother used to roll easter eggs on the white house lawn, my african

mile an hour ball american ballet teacher who was responsible for me dancing, i wish she was here today, it was because of her that i started. so it's an amazing, amazing, i totally agree with the reverend. i'm flying. i've had the best days. i must say, i teased the president, because when he -- he and that beautiful wife of his did their first dance and she was in that gorgeous white dress. when he started that dance, every dancer in the room with me just let out a scream. that's the high school dance we did, the bop dance that we did. i teased him about it. michelle said, well, that's the only step he has got. >> that is so great. as we mentioned, with the reverend, your among some really impressive company, desmond tutu, sidney poitier, sandra day o'connor.

was there anyone in particular that you were excited to meet? >> well, actually, absolutely all of them. i must say in my book that i carry every day, i have two names. one is mother teresa and the other one is archbishop tutu. and i have archbishop tutu, a blessed man. to see him walk into the room. dancers are work horses. we do our job to be awarded and rewarded like this is something, the responsibility is amazingly wonderful. i take it on, you know. i'm glad that i am a part of this amazing group of people. >> learned lowry, this is a tough question, nobody likes to blow their own horn here. is it hard, when you talk about the highest civilian honor bestowed upon anybody in this country and you are wearing it around your neck, first, let me ask you, have you been wearing

it since you got it? >> i don't remember taking it off. i may have. i can'ter. >> did you shower in that? >> well, i leaned over out of the shower so the water would miss it. it really is an honor. it says a lot about our country that an ordinary small town preacher like me could be there with senators and bishops and archbishops and great imtitate tors, it ought to be encouraging to ordinary people everywhere like me to serve the common good and someday, you may get recognized. >> betty asked miss rivera. was there somebody you couldn't wait to go up and meet? >> yeah, michelle. >> obama. >> i had met her before. i teased the president all the

time that i'm his competition. i don't think he is bothered. they have a few more problems that are more real. it was a beautiful experience. i was especially glad to see senator kennedy's daughter who received the medal on his behalf and jack kemp's widow. jack, even though he was a republican, and i'm neither republican or democrat, i'm methodist, you know, but jack was a wonderful fellow. i was so happy to meet his widow. i admired him. he was a good friend and a real american and a real republican. he is one of the original republicans, not the new style. >> reverend, we really appreciate your time coming here to share this moment with us and what it was like for you and to get to see the medal around your neck. i know you are not going to be

taking it off any time soon? >> i can't think of any occasion coming up that i could take it off for. >> very good. miss rivera, thank you so very much. we appreciate it. >> it looks better on her. >> actually, i also have the little one on. so, reverend, i'm wearing -- bill cosby told me to never take it off. i'm wearing the little one on everything. >> bless your heart. well, you have more things to attract people than i do. so i need the big one. >> miss rivera, good to see you. wish you could be here with us. good to catch up with you. >> thank you and congratulations to you both! >> thank you so much. we want to do a quick little recap of our breaking news today. senator webb hasek cured the release of america being held in myanmar. that american was sentenced to seven years hard labor camp there for entering the country and swimming over to democracy

proponent sukyi and she was under house arrest. the headline is that senator jim webb hasek cured the release of an american jailed in me an har. we will continue to follow that story. we will get answers to your health care reform questions. josh leaf looking into that for us. good morning again, josh. >> good morning to you guys. health care reform ultimately gives the government access to your bank account. we have the facts coming up. >> thank you. also, there was a health scare for that young lady, phantasia. it threatened to slow or end her career. now, she has a message for her worried fans. we sat down for a little chat, got back stage and on the stage at the kennedy center up in d.c. stay here. that interview coming up.

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few schools have them. >> i was coming at night and i see this computer. i found everything worked perfect, thrown out. perfect computers that are thrown out. so many computers are needed in chem ya. i decided i must do something. i refurbish discarded computers and send them to kenya. there are very few thing in kenya. even a pencil you have to get. any part i can play to make the life of kids better is great. the computers are perfect. then, we label the name of the school on each box and then we ship it to kenya. the computers are saved from poisoning the environmenten. they are going to be used for 20

years by some school. every school will plant 100 trees for the computers. we are planting a seed, teaching the kids to get involved and be engines of change. it's like. these are the kids. a new life. computers are getting new life. trees are being planted to bring new life too. you can find out more about all of our cnn heroes on our website, cnn.com/heroes. in a few weeks, we will be announcing the top ten cnn heroes of this year. >> a lot of people, unfortunately, dealing with foreclosure. that sounds bad. what could be worse. there are stunned homeowners who found out there is an expensive answer to that question. coming up.

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the latest on our top stories today, a suicide blast rocks kabul, afghanistan. so far, seven people have been killed. close to 100 have been injured. the taliban is claiming responsibility for that. investigators now looking at the air traffic controller who is supposed to be at the helm when that crash happened over the hudson. investigators said the controllers failed to advice a pilot about potential air traffic and look at that video. that video is just amazing. see that plane actually hit the helicopter. union leaders say the crash could not have been prevented, however. he has done his time. michael vick is now a philadelphia eagle. he is due at practice today. he signed a two-year deal for $6 million, a month after completing his sentence for running a dogfighting ring and has vowed to campaign for animal

rights. we want to get you back to breaking news. john yettaw was looking at seven years hard labor in myanmar. now shall the american is coming home after a visit from virginia senator, jim webb. he was convicted for visiting prodemocracy leader back in may. she was under house arrest and not allowed any visitors. for that, she has to spend another 18 months locked away in her home. webb also met with her during his trip. he is the first congressman in more than a decade to visit myanmar. yettaw will leave with him tomorrow. >> reporter: it's an understatement to sat relationship between this woman and this man is a mystery. she is awning sun soo chee who following the democratic elections was blocked and placed

under house arrest for most of the past two decades. he is john yettaw, a 53-year-old american from missouri. he made his way into suu kyi's compound and swam across a lake to her house. he spent the night there, a violation of her house arrest. her lawyer told cnn she asked yettaw to leave but he refused saying he was tired from his swim. now, both of them are in prison. some human rights activist think that's what the burmese government wanted. >> anything unusual happening in myanmar, especially in terms of awni aung song su. kyi. they always true their level best to find an excuse to lock her up. >> reporter: he has studied burr

immediate politics for more than a decade. there aren't any known connections between yettaw and burmese politics. there are many unanswered questions. among them, how was the unemployed yettaw able to pay for his trip. how did he enter a country known for being closed to foreigners. reports say yettaw, who is a mormon, told her he came to pray with her. friends and neighbors describe him as friendly and intelligent and also reclusive. >> he pretty much sort of keep it's to himself. he has his own, i don't know, agenda and priorities. he is working toward those. >> reporter: neighbors say yettaw, father of seven children, was writing a book on faith-based hair oeroism. activists say the timing of this

incident could not be worse. if she is convicted, which is almost a certainly, she will be unable to be a candidate in next year's election. you think an incident to punish the victim will also ensure that suu khy is not free for the upcoming election. >> obviously, a lot of change since anderson filed his report back in may. she was sentenced to another 18 months of house arrest after yettaw was found in her home. >> soum questions about the health care that we have brought back the truth squad to separate fact from figures fix. >> this is interesting. it has been coming up more and more lately. we are hearing people suggest that if health reform happens, the government might now have access to your bank account. here is what one person said at a town hall just other day.

>> on page 58, 59 of this bill, which gives the government access to private, individual bank accounts at their free will. i do not think the government has the right to do that. i would think that was unconstitutional. i know definitely, it is unamerican. >> where is it coming from? what's the deal? you heard her refer to a house bill. there are various pieces of legislation working their way through the house and senate. the biggest thing people keep talking about is this 1,000-page bill in the house. the house bill does call on the government to set some rules over electronic transactions. when you look at what those are all about, we show you here on the next screen. what those are about is setting up a system, a standardized payment way of insurers getting money to doctors offices and

hospitals. ta kind of funding has a stand ardized payment system for the money to go one relatively simple way. it does not give the government access to individual bank accounts. that's why on the last screen, you will see the truth squad has weighed in. we are calling it false. it affects companies and medical billing. it does not affect individuals. on the screen behind me, i want you all to know, there are so many claims going on out there, you can see all of the truth squad as they come out on our main page right here at slash health care. you can see a link to several fact checks. keep an eye there. obviously, guys, we are going to tackle as many as we can in the coming days, weeks, months, i don't know, for some piece of legislation that might make it to the president. >> people still trying to figure out what's going to be in that final piece of legislation. a lot of people have questions. that's why you are seeing so many heated town hall meetings.

coming up next, phantasia, the "american idol" winner, career almost derailed, maybe even threatened by tumors in her throat. stay with us.

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when traveling abroad, words and gestures can sometimes get lost in translation. michelle carry has tips on improving communication to avoid any misunderstandings next time you are on the go. >> reporter: its easy to miscommunicate when traveling abroad. >> affection and personal space is something that is very different from one culture to another. in a lot of countries surrounding the mediterranean, a kiss on the cheek or two kisses is a common way to say hello. >> reporter: eye contact varies across the globe. >> in germany, there is a tradition, when you raise a beer and toast someone, you have to make eye contact with everyone or else it means you will have

seven years of bad luck. >> reporter: in asia, it may be more respectful to simply be quiet. >> in thailand, people keep their voices down in temples and the same in churches and other religious institutions all over south america and the united states. if you are concerned about cultural misunderstandings when you travel, observe the locals and study up on the destination before you go. >> there, you know. don't let it get lost in translation. coming up, a foreclosure warning you probably have not heard before. we will show you how banks are giving the properties back to the owners with devastating consequences. >> also, really some devastating consequences for phantasia. at least, there could have been after she found out she had tumors in her throat of all places. that's not the news you want to hear if you depend on singing for a living. my chat with phantasia coming up after the break. stay here. 31 are streaming a sales conference from the road.

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about 50 performances with no real explanation. she is now ready to explain why she left and just why she had to come back. >> i had to do it. in my first week, i knew, oh, my god, this ain't no joke. it is not. this is the first time i have been in new york for years. when i was doing it, then i had so much baggage of my own that it was hard for me. >> as we say, now, you are back. everybody wondered where did you go? >> i had a lot going on. actually, i had tumors. i had to have surgery. i was just tired. i didn't understand why i was so tired. i would go from the color purple and go get i.v.s, because they said i was dehydrated. i had two tumors that was draining everything out of me.

>> reporter: for fantasia, getting news about tumors was bad enough. they were in her throat given that she is a woman without a high school diploma whose success has been almost solely based on her ability to sing. >> it ais a trying time for me. after surgery, i couldn't speak for six weeks. i was like, everything is going wrong. i can't speak or talk, can't work for six weeks. i have to work and pay my bills and take care of my whole family. >> reporter: are you fully recovered? >> fully recovered. >> reporter: how are your local cords? >> stronger than ever. i have to have somebody work with me. my talking is worse than my singing, they say. i don't know. everybody says, do you really talk like this. i'm like, yes, the doctor says my talking is worse than my singing. >> reporter: while the speaking voice may need some work, the

singing voice, judge for yourself. ♪ >> reporter: fantasia's health care prompted her to get a backup plan in education. you want to go and get your diploma? >> yes. >> how is that going? >> it's hard. it has been a long time i jumped out of school in the ninth grade. i am doing it because i have an eight-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old brother and i'm so hard on them about school. i am so hard on them. i'm like, how about this? watch your sister while i'm getting my diploma and i'm still cool. >> she is studying right now, busy schedule, taking a test sometime in the fall. i am going to follow up with her. she better pass. >> she is going to pass it. you have got to have faith. >> you saw something earlier, she has 23 tattoos. she has to do her own makeup to cover it up before she gets on stage. here and on the legs.

she explained she was going through so much in life that when she was in pain, she would go and get another tattoo. she was already in pain. go through this. she says she is done now. >> i know a lot of people with tattoos, it's one of those things, once you get one, you want another one. >> people don't know, you have makeup on this arm. it is covered. >> completely. i have a sleeve attached right here. we will be right back. talking about foreclosure on the other side of this break. you don't want to miss this story. a new form of foreclosure, something you may want to be aware of.

welcome back. things are popping in the severe

weather department. let's see what's happening from high above. we are going to take a look at some of our satellite imagery. the concern you have is a little bit farther back toward the east. this is on for the next storm. it will be called bill. i want to show you this p haing. tropical storm ana. a couple things to keep in mind. the storm is expected to strengthen as we make our way over the next couple of days. winds going to 50 miles an hour. 65 until monday. very close to hurricane strength or strong tropical storm strength as we get into tuesday, wednesday, and thursday and moving into parts of south florida. this is the path we have for the national hurricane center. a lot of changes in strength and direction over the next couple of days. the next storm up that we are talking about, the one that has concern. this is the tropical depression three. we put this into motion from the national hurricane center. shows this one strengthening to

a category one hurricane as we get to wednesday. a category one on the scale and strengthening with winds of 105. a category 2 as we get to 8:00 a.m. on thursday, close to the united states, the u.s. virgin islands. the same rule applies to this one. we can see it veer more to the north, possibly more to the south. a lot can happen over the next couple of hours. we will certainly keep a sharp eye on it. your next hour of cnn saturday starts now. hello from the cnn center. your in the "cnn newsroom." this is saturday, august 15th. i'm betty nguyen. i'm